In their first year in Salem, the Timbers U23 squad won the United Soccer League Premier Development League Northwest Division and made it all the way to the Western Conference semifinals.

It was a run that was a bit unexpected, as they had finished the 2016 season last in the Northwest Division.

The USL PDL is a semi-pro development league with teams in Canada and the United States. The league attracts some of the best talent in the country and several players are drafted into Major League Soccer or sign with teams in the second division United Soccer League.

“The last time I was involved with the Portland Timbers in 2013, we had seven players drafted,” Timbers U23 head coach Aaron Lewis said. “There is still work to be done for some of these guys.”

Here is an update of where several former players have landed in the professional ranks.

Niko De Vera (Akron) was drafted 31st overall in the MLS SuperDraft by the New York Red Bulls and has been assigned to the Red Bulls II team, which plays in the USL. De Vera played 12 games for the Timbers U23s in 2016 and 11 games in 2017.

Mohamed Thiaw (Louisville) was taken 35th by the San Jose Earthquakes and was assigned to Reno 1868 in the USL. Thiaw made six appearances for the Timbers U23s in 2016.

Nate Schultz (Akron) was drafted 48th by the LA Galaxy and was assigned to LA Galaxy II in the USL. Schultz made five appearances for the Timbers U23s in 2016 and 10 appearances in 2017, dishing out two assists.

Timmy Mueller (Oregon State) was drafted 63rd by the Portland Timbers, but has yet to be assigned to a minor league team. Mueller made six appearances for the Timbers U23s in 2016 and scored four goals.

Ben White (Gonzaga) was drafted 92nd by Toronto FC and is yet to be assigned to a minor league team. White made five appearances for the Timbers U23s in 2016.

Jordan Farr (Corban/Cascade High School) signed a professional contract with Indy Eleven of the USL. Farr spent 2016 with the Charlotte Eagles and the 2017 season with the Timbers U23s. With the U23s, he played in 12 games and recorded 30 saves, allowed 10 goals and had a 0.83 GAA (goals allowed average) on the season.

“Farr was on a lot of people’s radar as Sporting Kansas City and Houston both showed interest,” Lewis said. “T2 invited him into training camp, but when Martin Rennie was named the coach at Indy Eleven, we had a relationship with him and I reached out to Martin.”

Cristo Michaelson (Gonzaga) signed with Reno 1868 of the United Soccer League (USL) after a trial with the team. Michaelson made four appearances for the U23s in 2016 and played 12 games in 2017, where he scored three goals and dished out one assist.

Foster Langsdorf (Stanford) was signed by the Portland Timbers as a homegrown player. Langsdorf played for the Timbers Academy from 2012-14 and with the Timbers U23s from 2014-16. He played four seasons of collegiate soccer at Stanford and ended his collegiate career as the Pac-12 career leader in points (86) and goals (37).

Kris Reaves (Portland) was signed as a homegrown player by FC Dallas. Reaves played two games in 2016 and one game in 2017 with the Timbers U23s.

“What we’re trying to communicate to our fans is that this is the path to pro in soccer for college players,” Lewis said. “The path to pro is usually coming through Salem. This is the journey that lots of these professionals are using.”

With so many former Timbers U23 players making their marks in the professional ranks, a new batch of future pros is waiting in the wings.

The Timbers U23 squad will begin their second season in Salem with a preseason tournament on April 28 as they play host to Twin City Union at 7 p.m. The game will be held at John Chambers Field at the CFC complex (5201 State St, Salem).